Tire chain release device



June 14, 1949. M. B. HERBRICK I 2,472,828

TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1948 INVENTOR. Mi/fm 5-flerbn'clf Patented June 14, 1949 Z,472,&Z8

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE TIRE CHAIN RELEASE DEVICE Milton B.Herbrick, Sterling, Colo.

Application February 9, 1948, Serial No. 7,146

1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to a tire chain device.

An object of my invention is to provide a release device which willallow a tire chain to be released from a tire, and whereby the innerside chain can be conveniently removed.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for releasing theinner chain in a simple arrangement which requiresvery few parts, andwhich works cooperatively with the end cross chain for the releasingfunction.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having the abovecharacteristics which can be readily attached, or detached.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the releasing device asobserved from the inside of a tire,

Figure 2 is a sectional detail taken along the lines 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a modification, and

Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3.

My invention contemplates a simple arrangement for detaching the inner,annular side chain of a tire chain arrangement, which arrangement isoperatively connected with one of the cross chains.

I have used the character III to designate the inner side wall of a tirecasing. or the side which is facing away from the outside of thevehicle. I have further used the character II to designate a series ofchain links which provide the inner side chain of the chain arrangement,and I have used the character I2 to designate the usual cross linkswhich straddle the tire I3, such cross links being attached at I4 toeither side, it being understood that a further series of links I I arepositioned on the outside of the tire. I have further used the characterI5 to designate the end cross chains including the aforesaid twistedlinks I2.

The cross chains I5 are attached at their outer ends to the commonlyused ring or clamp, which provide attaching means for attachment to theend link I I of the outside chain. This construction is well-known inthe art and need not be illustrated herein.

One of the end links I I is attached at I6 to the ring shaped member I!having an opening at I8. Attached to an end link I2 of the cross chainis a keeper link I9 which is attached at 20 to the arcuate cam orwedging member ZI which is approximately as wide as the inner diameterof the ring I'I. Attached at 22, or extending from the wider portion His the considerably reduced portion 23 which is bent at 24, and isattached at 25 to the member 2I.

Figure 1 illustrates the arrangement as attached, and with the furtherend link II being firmly held within the ring member I'I due to the factthat the expanded portion 2 I has compressed the end link I I within themember H, the member 25 being held securely in this position due to thefact that the cross chain member I5 is attached in place.

However, when it is desired to remove the chain from the tire, the outerend of the cross chain I5 is detached from the outer side wall chain,and next, the operator will then be allowed to swing the member 2I inthe direction of the arrow 26 until the reduced portion 23 is within thering II. This operation will allow the right hand link I I as shown inFigure 1 to be removed through the opening I8, thereby releasing theinner side wall chain, whereby the chain can be removed. This, then,provides a simple means for releasing the inner side wall chain, and ifdesired, the arrangement in some cases can be swung by means of thecross chain itself, or by grasping the member I9.

A further modification of this arrangement is shown in Figures 3 and 4wherein the same ring I! is employed and having the opening I8 and withthe links being attached in the same manner. In this arrangement howevera member having a circular cross section and which is indicated by thecharacter 21 at its greatest cross section is used, and terminates inthe expanded head 28 which bears against the tire casing I3. The portion27 continues into the reduced portion 23 which is substantially arcuateas shown, the lower end of which is attached at 30 to a further link orkeeper 3I which in turn is attached to the links 52 of the cross chain.In this latter construction, when it is desired to release the side wallchains, after the cross chain I5 is released, the members 29 and 2! arepivoted in the direction of the arrow 26 whereby the reduced portion 29will enter into the ring I'I, allowing the link I I to be releasedthrough the opening I8 in the same manner as described above.

It will now be seen that I have provided the various advantages setforth in the objects of my invention with various other advantages beingreadily apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention the side chain, wedging members received in saidring adapted to snugly retain said link within said ring member, saidwedging members having reduced portions, and being attached to saidcross chain whereby release of said cross chain will provide means forreception of said reduced portions within said ring to allow release ofsaid link through said releasing opening for releasing said inner sidechain from a tire.

MILTDNJ'B. HERBRICK.

No references cited.

